His former defensive colleague will be conspicuous by his absence as the Gunners chase a record 15th Premiership win on the trot.
Tony faced a decision on what to do beyond playing football, and Nigel says:Nigel Winterburn says that Tony Adams did the right thing by getting out of the spotlight of professional football.
His former defensive colleague will be conspicuous by his absence as the Gunners chase a record 15th Premiership win on the trot.
Tony faced a decision on what to do beyond playing football, and Nigel says:
"Tony's troubles have been documented and he has come through it as a stronger person.
"He is not worried about the limelight, he just gets on with it, but I don't know what he wants to do after his sports science degree.
"I think he is doing the right thing to take a step back for the moment to see if he misses it or not."
It is the sort of soul searching Nigel himself will have to go through next summer, after he has played his final season at Upton Park.
Nigel was originally given a free transfer but took a pay cut to stay, and he says:
"I said all along along that I was disappointed to be leaving and that I hoped Glenn would change his mind; luckily for me he has done.
"That is just a small part of it for me now because I have to work very hard to get into the team.
"I don't really know what I will be doing this time next year; I have had a fantastic career and I am pushing it to its limits because I still feel I can play at the top.
"I will make the decision when the time is right at the end of next season; I just want to enjoy this season for the moment, but you never say never."
Nigel's immediate task, though, is to keep his place against his old side, who will be looking to have another season without defeat away from home - a remarkable feat that helped them to the title last season.
Not that their home form was bad either, and they only lost three games on their own patch - an achievement matched, incidentally, by West Ham.
"Tony's troubles have been documented and he has come through it as a stronger person.
"He is not worried about the limelight, he just gets on with it, but I don't know what he wants to do after his sports science degree.
"I think he is doing the right thing to take a step back for the moment to see if he misses it or not."
It is the sort of soul searching Nigel himself will have to go through next summer, after he has played his final season at Upton Park.
Nigel was originally given a free transfer but took a pay cut to stay, and he says:
"I said all along along that I was disappointed to be leaving and that I hoped Glenn would change his mind; luckily for me he has done.
"That is just a small part of it for me now because I have to work very hard to get into the team.
"I don't really know what I will be doing this time next year; I have had a fantastic career and I am pushing it to its limits because I still feel I can play at the top.
"I will make the decision when the time is right at the end of next season; I just want to enjoy this season for the moment, but you never say never."
Nigel's immediate task, though, is to keep his place against his old side, who will be looking to have another season without defeat away from home - a remarkable feat that helped them to the title last season.
Not that their home form was bad either, and they only lost three games on their own patch - an achievement matched, incidentally, by West Ham.
Of the match, Nigel says:
"It will be a great atmosphere and we are up for it; it is a tough start to the season but our home form was good last year and we want to keep that up."